EVANGELICALISM 2017: BANKRUPT POLITICS MASQUERADING AS FAITH

American evangelicals Fox News watchers and the Trump family ritually complain that no one says “Merry Christmas!” They complain that political correctness enforces a dreary “Happy Holidays.” Not this year!

Evangelical Trump supporters have joined with the Republicans this Christmas to make America Great Again and are sending this Christmas card redolent of Religious Liberty!

Merry Christmas America! You’re NOW living in Pottersville! Frank Capra’s classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” has been remade by Trump, Jerry Falwell Jr., the GOP leadership and other Christians who love the Baby Jesus! In our new Spirit-Filled movie George Baily dies and Potter wins and cuts billionaire’s taxes AND healthcare for ordinary Americans and the poor.

An unashamed Merry Christmas America!

Christians are good at averting their eyes from their craven BS- from their willfully ignorant creationism, to their con-artist faith healers, to televangelists caught with a prostitute, to Trump’s unfitness to lead.
Trump’s GOP is to America what Fred Phelps Westboro Church, was to his family as his brainwashed intimidated children were hauled around the USA to mock gays and grief-stricken 9/11 families. Any con-artist can call himself/herself a pastor in America and most do. Proof? The uncomfortable silence about Roy Moore and child rape while white evangelical “leaders” regularly gather for fawning group photos with their woman-assaulting “president.”

Religious freedom American/GOP-style means Christians being silent while Trump, Roy Moore and GOP hustlers press on with their God-hating sacrileges of pure evil – from tacit approval of child rape to cutting poor people’s healthcare, all to pay for billionaire’s tax cuts! And that’s on days they aren’t applauding that piece of filth otherwise known as Steve Bannon.

And what’s more, Trump and his evangelical-supporters aren’t patriotic- no matter how many times Jerry Falwell Jr. stands for the anthem or lauds Trump for disrespecting black athletes’ civil rights. Trump’s campaign WAS in direct contact with WikiLeaks Trump’s CIA director describes as “a non-state hostile intelligence service often abetted by state actors like Russia.” That’s okay with Trump’s godly fellow-traitors.

Today’s white evangelical community is the sworn enemy of sanity, goodness and truth. Hucksters like Roy Moore are the essence of American evangelicalism post-Trump not the exception. Besides the accusations of rape he faces what’s the ideological difference between Roy Moore and leaders like gun-waving Falwell and gay-hating Franklin Graham, let alone the Values Voters who were screaming adulation for white supremacist/opportunist/flake Steve Bannon?

When Roy Moore’s in jail he can think about how he and ISIS leaders were so similar: ISIS’ leaders and Moore both liked waving guns, saluting flags and airing their delight in condemnation and division not to mention fantasies of virgins! They were (allegedly in Moore’s case) both into child sex slaves too.
So much for Moore’s “Christian witness.”

Moore and his sanctimonious ilk, from Billy Graham on up or down, didn’t hijack Christianity. It always was this way. I was there (again: read “Letter to Lucy” please) in the opening moves of the religious right speaking from Jerry Falwell’s pulpit. The leaders were power-hungry flakes from Day One. Like Trump the evangelical flakes loved to be praised.

Trump could sum his Asia trip up with the remark (attributed to Julius Caesar) slightly changed to: “Veni, vidi, blandivi monstrum tot dictatorum” I came, I saw, I flattered the monster dictators.

Trump missed his calling as a preacher. He is a vain tin pot puffed up fool who flatters other tin pot rulers so he’ll be stroked. I well remember Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and Dr. Dobson: they were all Trump carbon-copies surrounded by sycophants.

Moore’s campaign brags of 50 pastors signing a letter of support. Disgusted? Don’t be. This is church business as usual. Moore isn’t an anomaly. The Apostle Paul is the model for evangelical abuse of women.

Just how dumb are the evangelical Trump-voters and their lickspittle leaders in lock step with a twit as they give away the faith for access to corrupt power? As Dumb as Trump’s own clan. As dumb as Trump Jr!

There’s clear and compelling evidence that Donald Trump Jr. is dumb as a post or should I say some preachers. A tweet pinned to the top of Trump Jr’s Twitter page says “Life is hard; it’s even harder when you’re stupid.”
Trump Jr. knows! Irony eluded him when he “liked” a tweet discrediting one of Moore’s accusers molested when she was a child, because she since then “has had three divorces – filed for bankruptcy three times.”

Trump Jr. would make a great conservative pastor. Evangelicalism circa 2017 is politics and money-laundering masquerading as faith. The Trump clan would fit right in, their hypocrisy being their best evangelical qualification.

Come to think of it, maybe Dr. Dobson was speaking the truth when he claimed Trump was now a “Baby Christian” and born-again. Trump and his family are sure acting like they are evangelicals.

“The Apostle Paul is the model for evangelical abuse of women.” That is not true. Such a thing would never be said by anyone who understood the New Testament, or believed it was inspired by God. It would only be said by someone who is a sworn enemy of Jesus Christ, which Frank Schaeffer is. As are those who agree with Frank and will defend what he has said.

Schaeffer believes Roy Moore is guilty, not only of the things he has been accused of, but also of anything he might be accused of. No evidence for his guilt is necessary for Schaeffer. The possibility of his guilt is proof enough. The only way Roy Moore might not be considered guilty of some charge is if it happened before he was born. Schaeffer has proven that he isn’t interested in justice and fairness. All he is interested in is destroying those he hates.

Thats a whole lotta unjustifiable and unsubstantiated accusations completely devoid of evidence or facts coming from a blatant heretical hypocrite such as yourself little one .

So once again I say … where’s the evidence child ? Put up or shut up

As for Moore little one … well Bubba Bryson .. hates to tell ya this what with your Roy Moore closet bromance fantasies and all .. but the fact is .. he’ll get a fair trial …. and he will be proclaimed guilty … and it aint the first time little man if you’d bother to look over his publicly available record from the past 40 odd years

You’re the one that continually rejects the words and mandates of the NT . So does that once and for all finally prove that you are not a Christian as you so adamantly claim ?

What I do agree with Frank along with a multitude of Biblical scholars .. is the fact that the church over the decades and centuries has continually taken Scripture out of context in order to defend their unBiblical agenda of misogyny and the abuse / rape of women .. justifying sin rather than condemning .

Well, I agree with that. Lots of people over the years have taken the Bible out of context. But that isn’t what Frank means. He means the NT itself, taken in context, has an agenda of inequality and abuse of women. He believes the OT does too. He believes the entire Bible teaches inequality and abuse of women.

And now suddenly you’re the expert when it comes to the inner workings of Franks mind and thoughts along with what every word he states must mean despite your insistence on reading into Frank’s words your own bias and agenda not to mention continually reading everything out of context ?

Well let me tell you something little man . When you’ve accomplished one one thousandth of what Frank has both within and outside the context of Christianity …

.. then … maybe then .. on some very superficial level you might be in a position to pass minor judgment on his thoughts words and deeds ..

.. but until then … being the mindless conspiracy addled sycophant hypocrite and heretic that you are .. you are not in a position to pass judgment , make assumptions nor accusations towards a common slug .. never mind one of God’s children ..

Mr Schaeffer is writing commentary, not reporting. If he were, we should expect him to put “accusation” ahead of each charge. Fair enough, but how can we be asked to dismiss all these women’s accusations as opportunism or “political hacks?” So, allow us to … believe their report, as it were. And how should we feel towards those who interfere with young people’s lives? Do we not yet agree that girls should be allowed to become adults with the support of, not the interference by adults? Clearly, in religions around the world, and for millennia, women have been “second class individuals,” and sexual harassment, forced marriage are horrible examples of usurping their rights. We should be appalled.

People are going to believe the accusations against Moore because they want to. For them, the accusations are proof of guilt. If Moore was innocent, there would have been no accusations is how the “thinking” goes.

In countries where there is religious freedom, people are free to raise their children how they want, and teach them what they want. Those who disagree with how some people do that are free to raise their own children how they want. What they are not free to do is force their beliefs on those they disagree with. You might not approve of how others do it, but how they raise their own children is their business.

I’m sure many are gleeful that Moore may go down. In any case, the charges themselves are quite serious, although apparently not violent or involve penetration, etc.., but for those individuals, if true, have certainly affected their lives. That’s why we are here asking, why is Moore given the benefit of the doubt first, and not these women, who were just girls?

The society also has an interest in how children are raised. They can’t really speak for themselves. Isn’t that a facet of the abortion debate? The state must intervene to save this life. Well what about when that life is biologically independent, when it has all the needs and desires of an individual? On one hand, it seems evangelicals consider the government and society to be Mammon, but they also want to own it, to govern it. To say to teenage girls, in this country, whom or when they should marry, or beat children because a verse can be found supporting it, is against the actual humanity that we experience together. I think that is what Frank is trying to explain to us – let’s not reject our own humanity, our own natural beauties and desires, certainly do not attempt to force on others a particular interpretation of scriptures. I suppose Frank should only return love to someone laughing while saying he will live in torture for eternity, but would any child wish that upon another? Become as children… and while we’re at it, let’s protect children.

And ahhh … once again little one … y’all might want to deal with that 1/2 ton steel I beam sticking out of your vacant skull before addressing the speck of dust or two in Franks

And err … here’s a little reality fix for ya ;

According to psychologists and psychiatrists both secular and Christian…..

90% of all men who defend other men of rape especially when the evidence against the accused is overwhelming are guilty of the same themselves … and … 95% of all men who are openly and vehemently homophobic like Roy Moore and yourself .. are in reality latent closet homosexuals

Begging the question .. just how many skeletons do you have hiding in that double wide walk in closet of yours … ehhh ?

And ahhh … no where does Frank claim the Bible itself is the model for sexual etc abuse towards women … but rather than it is the so called evangelicals in America along with the religious ( never ) right that use many of Paul’s proclamations and statements completely out of context that is to blame .

Try ( borrowing your infantile need to capitalize every letter ) READING THE COMPLETE ARTICLE IN CONTEXT before lambasting us with your worthless agendas and going off on yet another of your infantile , irrelevant and inane little rants acting more like a Scientologist in the act of ‘ Fair Game ‘ than anything even remotely resembling a Christian .. Biblical or otherwise

As you’ve proven a multitude of times both in regards to the Bible .. US Law … US Constitution … Bill of Rights etc .. you wouldn’t know context if your life depended on it .. which by the way .. it does .. your eternal life that is

FYI .. using the word ” nor ” as you have indicates you believe neither of our points are true

All Gary Neil Bryson is interested in is showing the world how much he hates and condemns everybody and everything not exactly and precisely in line with his personal opinions and delusions of the Truth ..

And where pray tell little one is the proof that I do not believe in God ? Fact is child in light of Frank’s constant claim to the contrary …. where is the proof that Frank does not believe in God ?

Put up or shut up Bryson .

And on that note continuing on the theme I started earlier ;

When you’ve accomplished one one hundredth of what I have in Christianity .. when you’ve spent even a thousandth of the time I have studying Scripture ( PhD in Reformation Theology and Philosophy w/emphasis in Biblical Apologetics ) .. when you can make claim to even a tenth of the accolades I have received over the decades from both Evangelical and Fundamentalist circles … when you can stand toe to toe with cult leaders , Liberal Christians , christian cult leaders as I have crushing them under the hard weight of Biblical fact ( as Frank’s father Francis taught me ) .. when you’ve genuinely and with love and compassion defended Christianity against all comers while adhering to Christ’s command to hate the sin but love the sinner

Then … and only then little man will you of earned the right to so much as challenge me on any Biblical issue or issue of Faith

But as the Bible you so openly detest clearly states .. you will never be in a position to pass judgment on either mine nor anyone else’s Faith or Salvation

All you’re doing Bryson is spouting off like a deranged teenager with your opinions assumptions and unjustifiable accusations with nary a fact , evidence or modicum of proof in sight

So again little man .. Put Up or Shut Up .. or alternatively finally admit you have no proof and therefore are in no position to pass judgment on Frank’s nor my salvation or damnation … as the Bible which you despise so completely continually makes so very painfully clear

One last time Bryson ( once again making use of your infantile habit of capitalizing each and every letter ) ;

” I am not God. If I was, you would already be in Hell. But God hates you more than I do. He is letting you pile up your sins so that your punishment in Hell will be worse than if you died now ”

And again Bryson … a whole lotta bloviating conjecture bias and opinion with nary a fact or a shred of evidence to be found

But again .. credit where credit is due little one … you are once again placing your blatant hatred and vindictive nature on display for all to see all while claiming yourself to be a Christian despite your constantly contradicting and violating the very Scripture you claim to adhere to

According to psychologists and psychiatrists both secular and Christian…..

90% of all men who defend other men of rape especially when the evidence against the accused is overwhelming are guilty of the same themselves … and … 95% of all men who are openly and vehemently homophobic like Roy Moore and yourself .. are in reality latent closet homosexuals

So seriously little man …. how many skeletons can you stuff into that walk in closet of yours ?

You’re a supporter and a defender of homosexuality, are you not? Frank is, so if you’re not, Frank won’t like it. Can you prove from the Bible that God approves of homosexuality? Do it, if you can. If you can’t, then why are you for what God is against?

Another question. Do you believe God created the universe and life on earth is six days, as recorded in Genesis, and confirmed by Jesus Christ in the Gospels?

Oh really little one ? In light of my constantly stating very clearly that though I have many friend and associates that are gay that I neither condone nor do I justify their ‘ choices ‘ and …that though I do accept them as people I do not accept their lifestyle …e.g. I love the sinners despite hating the sin … thats a very interesting albeit completely erroneous accusation you’re making . That context issue again or is it your ongoing cognitive disorder rearing its ugly head ?

In as far as what Frank and I do and do not agree on ? As adults ( and as a professing Christian myself ) I/we prefer to focus on those things we have in common rather than be divided by those issues we are in disagreement over

As an example . Those gay friends and associates I made mention of ? We have an agreement . Despite us both knowing exactly where the other stands .. They do not try to convince me they are right ( in their sexual orientation ) and I do not try to convince them they are wrong . They know exactly where I stand from the outset with us once again focusing on those things we have in common while leaving open the potential for discussion on that we do not should both agree it is time to do so

Want another one ? That Hells Angel I’ve known since H.S. We have many things in common including music , art , cars and motorcycles . As for the rest ? We both abide by a ” Don’t Ask Don’t Tell ” ethic … with once again one knowing exactly where the other stands on issues of contention

From a woman’s point-of-view, unfortunately.’The Apostle Paul is the model for evangelical abuse of women’ is true. You’re possibly speaking from the pulpit of patriarchal privilege. There’s no justification for the way Paul demoted women.

Schaeffer is saying that the God of the Bible is abusive of women and taught His followers to do the same. So Frank is condemning not only Jews and Christians, but God Himself. That includes Jesus Christ as God incarnate. The next time Frank says something that seems complimentary about Jesus Christ, don’t think he really believes it, because he does not. Frank is an enemy of the God of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments.

No little one … get yer precious little facts straight junior … that is what you are claiming about what Frank has written . Reality Check 101 . Just because within the depths of your demented and deranged little mind thats what you think Frank is writing ( he hasn’t ‘ said ‘ anything today ) doesn’t make it true .

Funny thing Bryson . Regardless of the fact that I know the Bible is not wrong … people and cultures thru out human history have lived with both hope and promise from Animists to Buddhists to Polytheism to Atheism from the dawn of written history without the Bible .

Which is to say Bryson that is one of the lamest and inane defenses of the Bible and the Truths therein anyone can make . Though in your defense it is the most common .. among those who don’t know any better

So … ahhh … do you think perhaps personal hope and what our future may hold is the least important aspect of the Bible .. and maybe that the Truth of God is ?

Isn’t it amazing how when confronted by fact and educating / edifying valid information that you might just benefit from given in a civil and respectful manner by someone vastly more educated and experienced than yourself … your immediate response is to reply with all the cleverness and maturity of a spoiled little five year old who lost his binky

If you were to go head to head with even the least educated Tibetan Buddhist never mind one of their well educated monks with your Hope and Knowledge of the Future defense of the Bible they would rip you to virtual shreds … from the outset accusing you of only being concerned with yourself and your own personal gain .. and they’d be right

Whereas if you started the debate off with a discussion of what is and what is not Truth .. well then little one you will have opened up a level of discourse discussion and debate that though immediately may not garner any results .. will leave the door open for many a fine discussion in the future .. any one of which may just lead to the conversion of the one you’re debating with

Hell Bryson the ancient Egyptians created what in todays dollars would be a multi billion dollar industry capable of rivaling if not exceeding Apple in the vain pursuit of a hope and future they were absolutely convinced of .

Tibetan Buddhists ? As false a hope as theirs might be … I’d place their faith , hope and devotion up against 90% of what our so called Evangelical and Biblical Christians in America make claim to

Suffice it to say if time and space allowed I could go on forever with example after example of other religions and cultures who’s devotion and faith and hope for the future exceeds that of the overwhelming majority of American Christians .

You are absolutely correct! They have gotten it to the point where Religion is leading our country! Trump is helping the evangelical phony christians using relativism to explain away the horrendous atrocities being committed by this regime and the “so called Christians” on the Trump wagon! No true believer looks at the Donald and sees a man of God! No one with an IQ in the triple digits could be for Trump! We need to remove the entire regime!

Sigh … yes he did .. and isn’t it sad that soon after he fell off the rails into the depths and grasp of the Religious ( never ) Right … sigh .. you have no clue how hard it was to watch a mentor / teacher go down that Rabbits Hole after years of doing so much good . Much as Martin Luther did later in his life . Whats concerning is his son-inlaw Udo Middleaman and daughter are still carrying on with many of the myths Francis propagated late in life

Suffice it to say I’ve confronted Udo many times in the past about his grievous errors to little or no avail .. his holding to the myth that this was ever a Christian country and that our US past was so much more moral than the present

PBS has a POV documentary playing right now about our dear American veterans and the absolute suicide epidemic as 20 plus folks a day take their own lives who served in our longest wars to date.

One of the authors of that doc said how PTSD is about Moral injury when men are forced to do something against their core beliefs and how that affects one when home from war. Also, the notion that we at home are not speaking out about the endless wars and how we as the “public” are responsible for the men we send off to war.

The religious right is the chief culprit in this IMO and it is a grand societal failure to fail to speak out on this issue. The evangelical loves all wars! Never one waged they won’t support!
Moral failure and hypocrisy will be their undoing and Frank Shaeffer is correct upon what he is doing.

Francis Shaeffer and his life’s work was hi jacked by our dear intelligence agencies and the right wing of that GOP and of course many republicans are aghast at what is going on also so in the end this will affect both parties.

I’m not an “evangelical”, but I am opposed to the wars the US has been involved in these last many years. If it were up to me, I would bring home most of the troops now stationed around the world. I oppose the attempt of the US to police the world. I oppose the UN and a “new world order”.